Your Vote Counts!
In order to vote in the November 2020 U.S. elections, all overseas U.S. citizens need to have completed a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) in 2020. Whether you are a first-time voter or have already received ballots and voted absentee in past elections, you must complete an FPCA each year to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter.
If you would like to drop off your completed Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) or ballot for delivery to the United States via diplomatic pouch, the U.S. Embassy in Banjul is accepting FPCAs and ballots at the main Embassy entrance on Wednesdays between 10:00 and 16:00. We recommend submitting your FPCA as soon as possible, and mailing ballots no later than October 2. In light of the current shipping and transit delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, we strongly encourage you to email your FPCA, if your state allows, and to also request receiving your ballot by email when completing the FPCA.
Registering to Vote and submitting a ballot is fast, easy, and can be done from anywhere in the world! Follow a few simple steps to vote in the 2020 U.S. elections:
1. Register to vote: Start by confirming your voter registration with your state. Some states require absentee voters to register annually, so you may need to re-register. Go to FVAP.gov to connect to your state’s voter portal to register to vote, request a ballot, and more.
2. Request Your Ballot: Most states provide the option to request ballots through their state election portals, which you can easily access via FVAP.gov. You can also choose to complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The completion of the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives), including primaries and special elections, during the calendar year in which it is submitted. FPCA forms that are correctly filled out and include a signature and date are accepted by all local election officials in every U.S. state and territory. FVAP’s easy online assistant can assist you with completing the FPCA.
Whether you request your ballot through your state’s portal or the FPCA, we encourage you to select the option to receive your ballot electronically (by email, internet download, or fax) when available. This is the fastest way to get your ballot and ensures you have it in time to return a completed form before your state’s deadline.
3. Receive and Complete Your Ballot: States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office, and states generally send out ballots at least 30 days before primary elections. Most states allow you to confirm your ballot delivery online.
4. Return Your Completed, Signed Ballot: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through U.S. Embassy Banjul’s diplomatic pouch. The diplomatic pouch provides free mail service from embassies and consulates to a U.S. sorting facility. You will need to place your ballots in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage, in order for them to be delivered to the proper local election authorities once received by the U.S. sorting facility.
If you plan to use the diplomatic pouch, drop off your completed ballots in the proper addressed, postage paid envelope to the American Citizens Services section by October 2. Ballots can be delivered to the U.S. Embassy Banjul’s main entrance on Wednesdays, between 10:00 and 16:00. It can take up to four weeks for mail to reach its destination if sent by an embassy or consulate via diplomatic pouch. All overseas U.S. citizens are advised to submit their forms and ballots accordingly. Ballots will be received and forwarded whenever submitted but you may want to consider using a courier service if submitting your ballot close to or after the stated delivery time for pouch mail.
Researching the Candidates and Issues – Online Resources:
- Go to the FVAP links page for helpful resources to aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain online.
- You can also read national and hometown newspapers online, or search the internet to locate articles and information.
- For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP’s Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook (@DODFVAP), Twitter (@FVAP), and Instagram (@fvapgov).
- Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov.
- Additional information on voting overseas can be found on the State Department’s Absentee Voting webpage.
If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact U.S. Embassy Banjul’s American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit at +220-438-1341, or at ConsularBanjul@state.gov.